Cultural Differences in the Dating World

I have often wondered about the American culture of dating vs. other dating cultures. This morning, while checking my Facebook wall posts, I came across a comment on dating coach Evan Marc Katz’s wall, written by self-pronounced Swedish dating guru, Marie Hagberg, and decided to Google her. Her website did not appear in my search, but I came across this article, which quotes Marie. I was fascinated by this account of Swedish men and how they behave on dates. What do you think?

The dinner went like this: I asked a question. He answered. I asked another. He answered again. Not once did a question come my way… When the bill came, I offered to help pay as I always do; a well-rehearsed token gesture of kindness, which I expected to be duly rebuffed. Instead, my Swedish companion “allowed” me to pay for half the meal. And then left me to cover our after-dinner coffee–another sure sign in my book that things were heading in the wrong direction. Three hours later, my stomach full of non-free food and my mind reeling from the piss-poor conversation, my first Swedish date was finally over…

Frustrated, I decided to call an expert: Swedish author and dating guru Marie Hagberg… “You expect a guy to make the first move, but in Sweden he won’t unless he’s really drunk,” Hagberg said… “Men here are very timid,”… But why don’t they pay? “Men think women earn almost as much as they do, so why should they pay? I think that’s bullshit,” she said…

“I slowly start to realize that a Swedish man on a first date is like a lost puppy trying to find his way. He knows not how to approach a lady, carry a conversation, or to offer to pay. Poor things. I almost feel sorry for them. And I couldn’t help but wonder what could be responsible for stunting the dating intelligence of Swedish men so severely. Hagberg’s answer catches me off guard. “It has to do with our social welfare system,” she exclaims… “Here nobody is supposed to take care of their own life or future and people consider the government responsible for everything. That has coloured the world of dating, and gone overboard.”

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